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He told the inquest that the state the body was found in was consistent with one that had been in water for a number of weeks.

“The degree of changes that had occurred after death caused significant problems in identifying whether there were any injuries prior to death,” he said.

“I cannot say whether there were any skin injuries, but what I can say is that there were no bone injuries.”

Dr Jones explained that toxicology tests revealed the presence of an anti-depressant but was unable to identify alcohol in the blood at the time of death.

Coroner Andrew Barkley recorded an open conclusion.

He said: “I accept the evidence, of course, from Dr Jones which is that the medical cause of his death has to be recorded as unascertained, and in these circumstances, I cannot distinguish or differentiate between any of the possibilities that have been considered, or indeed any others that have not been. For that reason, I am obliged to record an open conclusion.”